First Page:

Where Hebrew letters appeared within the English text, these have been
transliterated and included in brackets. In many cases the hebrew has
also been spelled out, thus:
[tov (tet vov bet)].

A rare additional transcriber's note may be found within brackets [].

The source text contained only one comment in a bracket, that should
not be confused as a transcriber's note. This is the word [Baden]
that appeared in the Bibliography.

Each [s] is the special character known as "section sign."

Where the source text referenced a page number within the same book,
the transcriber substituted a reference in brackets [] that will be
useful for readers of this e text version.

The source book contained the complete Pirkei Avot, in Hebrew, with
vowels. This has, of necessity, been omitted from the current
e text document, which uses only Roman font.

Footnotes all appeared at the bottom of the page, separated by a line
from the main text, and printed in the same font and size as the main
text. The transcriber has moved these footnotes to follow the
paragraph they supplement, and indented them.

At the end of this e text, readers will find a section titled
TRANSCRIPTION NOTES which deals with issues such as accent marks.

Following this, readers will find a PAGE REFERENCE INDEX. This
reference will help maintain the stability of references to this
book from outside sources.

END of TRANSCRIBER'S COMMENTS

Library of Jewish Classics
==========================

I. Leopold Zunz: The Sufferings of the Jews During the Middle Ages
II. Hyman Hurwitz: Talmudic Tales
III. "Pirek Abot": The Sayings of the Jewish Fathers

Notwithstanding the fact that there are many editions of the Sayings
of the Jewish Fathers , and that it has been translated innumerable
times in all modern tongues, no apology need be given for the
appearance of this little volume in the series of Jewish Classics .
The Pirke Abot is indeed a classical bit of that ancient Jewish
classic, the Mishnah .

The translation in this edition is based largely upon that of Taylor,
in his Sayings of the Jewish Fathers , and upon the excellent version
of Singer, in his Authorized Daily Prayer Book .

This edition is intended mainly for popular reading, but it has been
thought wise to amplify the notes, especially with bibliographical
references, so that it may serve the purpose of a teacher's handbook,
and also be useful as a text book for the higher grades of religious
schools and for study circles. The references are to books that are
generally accessible, and, wherever possible, to books in English.
The notes are by no means intended to be exhaustive, but rather to be
suggestive.

It is the humble hope of the editor that this little book may be the
means of further popularizing the practical and, at the same time,
high minded wisdom of the "Fathers"; that it may serve as an incentive
to a more detailed study of their philosophy of life, and that its
appearance may help us to lead in a revival of that most ancient and
praiseworthy custom of reading the Pirke Abot in the house of
worship on the Sabbath, during the summer months... Continue reading book >>